The Adventist Way of Life

Positional sanctification is the fact that God declares a Christian to be absolutely set apart the moment he or she believes in Jesus Christ. The Adventist Christian does not see this act as full sanctification because there is another aspect, progressive sanctification. Progressive sanctification is the process in a Christian’s life in which he or she is made progressively more holy. Both types of sanctification are, from an  Adventist Christian view, obedient acts. Coming to Christ is an act of obedience as much as living a Christian life is obedience. Progressive sanctification is obediance to the commandments of God motivated out of love. We keep the commandments not to “be” saved but we keep them because Jesus “saved” us. The apostle Paul tells us that we have to “work out” our salvation with fear and trembling. He is telling us that there are things that have to be worked out, not worked “for”.Jesus says; “…if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.” [Matthew 19:17] So we see that though the process of progressional sanctification is asked of us it does not directly save us. Only true faith in Christ saves us and faith without works is dead. Christian author Ellen White said;“While we are to be in harmony with God’s law, we are not saved by the works of the law, yet we cannot be saved without obedience. The law is the standard by which character is measured. But we cannot possibly keep the commandments of God without the regenerating grace of Christ. Jesus alone can cleanse us from all sin. He does not save us by law, neither will he save us in disobedience to law.” Christ Gives Repentance (Signs of Times 1890 August EGW)

Ellen White also clearly states; “Obedience to the law of God is sanctification.”  Christians are both “sanctified in Christ Jesus” and “called to be holy.” The Greek words for “sanctified” and “holy” are from the same root word. A Christian is holy and called to be holy at the same time. How? Through surrender and obedience!

Regarding the idea of a positional sanctification Ellen White says; “Christ is our sacrifice, our substitute, our surety, our divine intercessor; he is made unto us righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. “For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.” (Hebs:9:24)  Signs Times.1892-July, EGW

Basically sanctification involves:

|  Add to del.icio.us |  digg this